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Son’s musical composition honors POW experience of his father - and all others

Son’s musical composition honors POW experience of his father - and all others

Chris Horn knew that this past Memorial Day would be like no other for his 87-year old father, retired U.S. Army Air Corps Major Edward Horn. It would fall on May 28 — his father’s own day of infamy, the day his B-26 bomber, “The Bad Penny,” was shot down over Amiens, France. The day he was taken prisoner.

In the 68 years since that day, the elder Horn has attended his share of memorial concerts, but the Palm Beach Gardens resident has always felt something was missing.

“Usually in recognition of Memorial Day, they play the Marines’ Hymn, the Army’s song, Navy and Air Force, Coast Guard,” Maj. Horn said. “But there’s nothing to really honor the POWs and MIAs.”

His sentiment didn’t fall on deaf ears. His son, Chris, a musician with the Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches, arranged his own tribute: the POW/MIA March, which had its debut at a patriotic concert May 5 at Palm Beach State College’s Eissey Campus on PGA Boulevard.

The medley combines some of the most recognized music from Hollywood films, all with prisoner-of-war story lines.

“There’s the march from The Great Escape, The Hogan’s Heroes march, The Bridge over the River Kwai’s theme, Colonel Bogey March,” said Chris, 57.

The Great Escape was based on the Stallag Luft III prison camp in Zagan, Poland, the same one where Horn was held.

Maj. Horn, then a 19-year-old second lieutenant, was a member of the 344th Bomb Group. He was flying co-pilot on his 23rd mission, bombing a marshaling railway, his second mission of the day.

“The right engine was hit by anti-aircraft fire,” Chris Horn said. “They had the plane under control. It had a P-47 escort and they were trying to get back to England. They could see the English Channel. They were that close, but they could not maintain altitude. They were on fire, so they bailed.”

Maj. Horn recounted what became of his crew.

“Out of my crew of six, there were two that became prisoners of war. Two were picked up by the French Underground. The pilot that was shot down was killed coming down in his parachute. The tail gunner is still MIA.”

Maj. Horn spent time at two other POW camps, Stallag XIII D in Mooseburg, Germany, and Stallag VII A in Nurenberg, Germany.

“In January, 1945 the Russians were approaching,” Chris Horn said. “The Germans did not want the prison to be liberated by Russians, they wanted to use them as bargaining chips.”

So they moved them.

“It was the middle of winter, freezing weather and no food,” Chris Horn said. “They had them march west toward Germany. … They were later moved to Nurenberg. There was 135,000 in camp built for 20,000.”

Freedom finally came on April 29, 1945. “I was liberated by General George Patton,” Maj. Horn said. “I got to see ‘Old Blood and Guts’ myself.”

With the anniversary date fast approaching, Chris finished his project. Maj. Horn along with five other POWs and 700 of their nearest and dearest, gathered at the Eissey Campus Theatre for Of Freedom’s Voice, a tribute to all of the Armed Forces featuring the debut of the POW/MIA March - conducted by the younger Horn.

“When we heard the music, it brought tears to my eyes,” Maj. Horn said. “I was so proud of him. All these years and nobody has written any music just for POWs, and now Chris has filled that hole.”

With Father’s Day this weekend, what can the Horns do for an encore? Both will travel to Dayton, Ohio, for two special reunions. Chris will attend his high school. Maj. Horn will meet up with the granddaughter of one of his gunners to tour the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

Among the museum’s relics - an old B-26 and an actual train car that transported prisoners - will be Maj. Horn. Those lucky enough to be there that day are likely to get a history lesson from someone who’s lived it.